The Islanders Informer

The Islanders top line of Matt Moulson, John Tavares, and PA Parenteau has been stellar the last three games. Last night, in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, Tavares netted a hat trick and added an assist, Moulson added one goal and one assist, and Parenteau registered three helpers. Against the Rangers, the Islanders top line totaled nine points. The line also registered eight shots on goal and was a collective +6 on the night.

In the Isles previous victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, the Isles top line registered eight total points-Tavares with two goals and two assists and Moulson and Parenteau with one goal and one assist each. The top line also played well in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday afternoon, but it didn’t show up as much on the score sheet. Parenteau had two assists in the victory over the Wild.

The Isles top line has led the team to a 3-1 record to open the season. The Islanders are only two points behind the Atlantic Division leading Pittsburgh Penguins having played two less games. Tavares is tied with Phil Kessel and James Neal for the NHL goal lead with five. Tavares is also tied with Kessel for the NHL points lead with eight. In addition, Parenteau is tied for the NHL assist lead with David Legwand and Erik Karlsson with six.

Through four games, the Isles top line has combined for a total of 19 points-an average of almost five points per game. If the top line can continue to play the way they have in the first four games, the Islanders can look forward to adding a lot more ‘W’s’ in the win column.

The Isles first line isn’t the only reason the team has begun the season with three wins in four games. Goaltender Al Montoya has been stellar in net. Montoya leads the NHL with a 1.35 GAA and is second in the league with a .953 save percentage. Evgeni Nabokov was given his first start of the season last night against the Rangers and stopped 29 of 31 shots. Nabokov had some very key saves to keep the Isles lead at 3-2 in the third period before Tavares added an empty netter late in the third. The Isles goaltending has certainly been a bright spot for the team so far in the young season. Look for Montoya to get the majority of the starts in the next couple of weeks, with Nabokov filling in when Montoya needs a break. There are many people who think that the Islanders may be using Nabokov as trade bait, but I don’t think that is the case, especially with Rick DiPietro being out indefinitely with a concussion.

The Isles have a few days between games before playing at Tampa Bay on Thursday and at Florida on Saturday night.